In Virginia: A Patent (after the Rev. War called a Land Grant) is needed before land can be conveyed via a deed. A Survey is needed for a Patent or Land Grant A Survey was done after a Warrant was issued. Thus one way to convey unpatented land was by "Assignment". Another way would be via a "Will" or if no "Will" (Intestate) by the VA inheritance laws. A third way would be forfeiture due to non-payment of taxes. For free viewing or downloading of copies of all VA Patents or Land Grants (including KY and West VA prior to their statehood) go to the State Library of Virginia wedsite at: http://ajax.lva.lib.va.us/F/TR7S34DS3V5IU7EA4UNV8NNEN4ENSLFQL8926T6QASHXM16XNS -01863?func=file&file_name=find-m-lva01 Click on "Images, Indexes, etc." which brings up a "Multi-Catalog Search" window. Check the "Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants/Northern Neck Grants and Surveys" box near the bottom of the window. Then type in what you want to search for in the "Type word or phrase" box -- such as John Doe. To limit your search to Washington County, type "Washington John Doe" which will limit your search to Washington County (and instances of a person named Washington, etc). If a surname has various spellings, sometimes the program will supply the variations, but not always. One way to be sure is to use an "*" for a 'wild card' such as: Type "Washington Edm*on" to get all occurances of Edmondson, Edmundson, Edmiston, Edmonson. If you don't have a name, but do have the number of acres in a tract such as 219 acres, typing Washington "219 acres" should bring up all the occurances of 219 acres in the Washington County Patents or Land Grants. If the land was on a named creek, try typing in the creek's name such as: "Washington Cedar Creek" Note: at times the same creek will have had different names such as current Hutton Creek was called Bakers Creek, Thompsons Creek & Stalnakers Creek. The 'Wild card' comes in handy where a creek may be called Baker, Bakers, Baker's Creek -- use "Washington Baker* Creek" The 'Wild card' also comes in handy for plural surnames when they are used as adjoining neighbors, etc., and would have an "s" on the end of the name such as when the entry is "Clark's adjoining 40 acres" -- then use "Washington Clark*" All Patents and Land Grants include the Survey metes and bounds (distances, directions, corners, etc.) and at times adjoining neighbors (note: as some of the Patents or Land Grants were granted long after a Survey was done, some or all of the "adjoining neighbors" may not be current neighbors of the tract of land at the time the Patent or Land Grant was granted). Once you have the Patent or Land Grant Volume and page number, go to: http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/LONN/LO.html where you can view and/or download the Patent or Land Grant. Bob Ford ************** Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489